Portable sign



Dec. 27, 1 8- E: c. BR'O'WNELL.

PORTABLE 5 IGN Filed April 14, 1938 5 [f Emu/x7e INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to portable signs and is particularly adapted to be used in connection with merchandise being displayed for sale.

The primary object of my invention is providing a holding bracket for a portable sign that can be clamped to any object for supporting the sign.

Another object of my invention is to provide a means for clamping a display sign to a holding bracket that can be readily manipulated without injuring the sign finish.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a universal clamp for attaching to objects having provision made thereon for receiving a bracket or holding arm supporting a sign.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide a holding arm, having a clamp on one end for receiving a sign and a clamp on the opposite end for attaching the assembly to a supporting means, such as a display shelf, or any other suitable object. 1

Another object of my invention is to provide a clamp so shaped and designed as to permit considerable flexing without injury to the clamp.

And a still further object of my invention is to provide clamps that can securely grip a supporting object without injuring the same regardless of thickness or shape of thesupporting object.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in therdrawing, specification and claims to follow.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention attached to the usual shelving within a store for displaying merchandise.

Figure 2 is an inverted perspective view of the clamping means shown in Figure 1, for holding the sign bracket to the shelf.

Figure 3 is a sectional end view of a steel or metal shelf, having my clamp secured thereto for holding a portable sign.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of my new and improved clamping means for clamping the sign to the holding bracket.

Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4, showing the sign being inserted within the clamp.

Figure 6 is another preferred form of clamp as related to the clamp holding the bracket to a supporting means, such as a shelf.

Figure 7 is a sectional end view of a shelf, illustrating the manner of connecting the clamp shown in Figure 6 to the shelf.

In the drawing:

l and 2 indicate-the shelves as commonly used in grocery stores, having merchandise 3 displayed thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a sign 4, directing the same towards merchandise 3, drawing the customers attention to this particular special. In order to hold this sign in proper position, a bracket arm 5 is provided. This bracket arm is connected to the shelving by suitable clamp 6. The clamp '6 consists of a main body portion 1, having an upper clamping jaw8 formed at approximately right angles to the body portion 7. This jaw rests upon the shelf, while a lower flexible clamping jaw 9 is provided for engaging the underside of the shelf at It. An offset 9A is provided for clearing the trim 28 of the shelves. I do not wish to be limited to shelving, as this clampmay be attached to any suitable support.

Theflexible jaw 9 is inserted within the pressed out portion ll, of the main body 1, and has its lower end resting on the ledge 12, this jaw is readily removable from the clamp. The bracket or holding arm 5 has a right angle bend l3 reversed upon itself, as shown, that can be inserted underneath the raised portion Id of the clamp. This provides a demountable bracket arm eliminating the necessity of removing the clamp from the shelving when the sign is taken down. The upper jaw 8 is preferably formed curved, as shown at 55, this permits the edges Hi to contact the supporting object, preventing the clamp from being shifted sidewise, holding the same in a fixed position. The end ll of the bracket arm 5 is coiled about, as best shown in Figures 4 and 5, terminating in a lever l8, which when compressed towards the arm 5 will open up the coil l8, as shown in Figure 5. The coil bears against the main bracket arm at 20, while the lever engages the coil at 2|, forming a fulcrum point providing a space 22 for inserting the sign 4. 'This is one of the high points of my invention, making it easy to attach the sign 4 to the bracket arm 5 and engaging the sign without defacing the surface of the same. This type of connection also permits the sign being positioned at any angle relative to the bracket arm 5.

Referring to Figures 6 and 7, another preferred form of clamp for clamping the arm to a supporting means is used. In this construction the.

bracket arm 5 terminates in a loop 23, having a downward projecting leg 24 turned at right angles at 25, brought up in a curved clamping jaw 26. The base 21 is provided for accommodating the ledge 28 of the shelf I.

' This idea primarily has been covered in another patent application filed by me, the differand continues completely to the end of the jaw 26 without any connection relative to itself. This is highly important due to the fact that it provides a spring action the entire length of the bracket arm 5 and through the clamp portion just described. This makes it possible to bend the clamp to great limits without causing it to become distorted. This is also a feature that is highly important.

Referring to the bracket arm 5 in Figure 5, when the arm is not being used in connection with the clamp 1, it is possible to insert within the V-shaped portion l3 a vacuum cup connection which may be used in glass counters, windows, etc.

I do not wish to be limited to this particular form of construction, as other forms of embodiment may be used, still coming within the scope of the claims to follow.

What is claimed to be new is;

1. A portable sign carrier designed for removable connection with a shelf or the like support, comprising a right angle clamp to removably engage a support, a bent out portion formed in the angle clamp to form a pocket, a rod-like arm having its inner terminal bent at a right angle and bent again upon itself to provide a projection, said projection engaging in the pocket in the clamp and projecting outwardly from. the clamp, said arm having a coiled terminal at the end remote from the clamp and provided with means whereby the coil sections of the terminal provide for clamping reception of a sign, and a resilient member on the inside of the clamp adapted to engage a shelf in cooperation with the angle clamp.

2. A portable sign carrier comprising a clamp having a substantially right angled plate-like formation, one length of the clamp when in use adapted to overlie a support, the other length of the clamp extending vertically in advance of the support, a spring strip removably carried by the clamp and cooperating with the support with ence being that from the point 6 the loop begins which the clamp may be used to hold the clamp in position, a rod-like member removably carried by the, clamp and extending forwardly therefrom, and a clamping coil formed at the end of the rod-like member remote from the clamp, the sections of the coil being movable under pressure to provide for the reception of a sign or like element.

3 A portable sign carrier including a metallic member having a section to overlie a support and a substantially right angled section to extend in advance of the support, the right angled section being formed with an integral clip, a spring strip terminally and removably seated in the clip and having a rounded free end to cooperate with the support, said right angled section being formed with a second integral clip, a rod-like arm removably seated in said second clip and extending outwardly from the clamp, the free terminal of the rod-like section being formed with a coil.

4.. A construction as defined in claim 3, wherein the coil is of several convolutions with the end projected outwardly and upwardly to provide with the rod-like section a means whereby the convolutions of the coil may be separated to provide a clamping receiver for a sign or the like.

5. A portable sign carrier including a metallic member including a horizontal portion and a vertical portion, the material of the verticalportion near its lower end being divided andbent to form an inwardly extending clip, a spring strip removably inserted in the clip and having a rounded terminal for clamping cooperation with the horizontal portion of the member, the vertical portion of the member being formed with an outwardly extending integral clip, a rod-like arm EARL C. BROWNELL. 

